PLA supplier: extrusion, molding and film grades
PLA is plant-based and clear, and can be industrially composted where facilities exist. We source extrusion, molding and film grades.
One gaylord to a truckload · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Low (blends: moderate)
- Heat (HDT)
- ~55-60°C standard grades
- Chemical resistance
- Moderate
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload; bulk by arrangement
- Grades
- General-purpose clear grades · Injection molding grades · Thermoforming / sheet grades
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
PLA is the pick for clear, stiff packaging and molded parts where a bio-based resin or compostability to ASTM D6400 / EN 13432 is part of the spec. It works well for cold-drink cups, clamshells, thermoformed trays and filament. The thing that most often goes wrong is heat and moisture: standard PLA softens around 55–60°C / 131–140°F, and wet pellets hydrolyze in the barrel and give brittle parts.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About PLA
Polylactic acid is produced from renewable feedstocks and offers PS-like stiffness and clarity with a route to industrial compostability (ASTM D6400) that many brands ask for. Compostability is listed for the finished item at its tested thickness, not to the resin, and labeling rules vary by state. Heat resistance and toughness are the design constraints, both addressable with crystallized or blended grades.
Common applications
- Industrially compostable food packaging (finished items listed to ASTM D6400)
- Cold-drink cups and containers
- Rigid consumer packaging
- Foodservice ware
- 3D printing filament feedstock
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Low (blends: moderate) |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT) | ~55-60°C standard (amorphous); 100°C+ for crystallized high-heat grades (opaque) |
| Clarity | Excellent in standard grades; crystallized heat-resistant grades are opaque |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate |
| Relative cost | Moderate |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
PLA grades differ in melt flow and in how readily they crystallize, which is set by the producer’s isomer ratio.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Extrusion and thermoforming grades | Sheet for cups, clamshells and trays | Low melt flow for melt strength. Sheet can crack when trimmed cold |
| Injection molding grades | Thin-wall containers, cutlery and consumer parts | Brittle in standard grades. Design out sharp corners and snap fits |
| Crystallizing high-heat grades | Hot-fill, hot-drink lids and cutlery that sees hot food | Need a hot mold or an annealing step, and they turn opaque |
| Film and fiber grades | Packaging film and nonwovens | Stiff and noisy as film unless blended. Check seal behavior on your line |
| Filament grades | 3D-printing filament extrusion | Lot-to-lot melt flow must stay inside your line’s window |
| Toughened and PBAT blends | Parts and films that need more impact or flexibility | Blends change clarity and heat resistance. Compostability depends on the whole formula |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. Always dry. Crystallized pellets: about 65–90°C / 149–194°F (80°C / 176°F for 4 hours is common) with dehumidified air, to below about 250 ppm. Amorphous pellets must be dried cooler and longer, about 40°C / 104°F and no higher than about 45°C / 113°F, or they stick together. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. Most grades run at about 190–230°C / 374–446°F. Keep residence short. PLA loses molecular weight quickly when it sits hot or wet.
- Mold temperature. For clear amorphous parts, run a cool tool, about 15–30°C / 59–86°F, well below the glass transition. Crystallizing grades need a hot tool, about 90–110°C / 194–230°F, and a longer cycle.
- Shrinkage. Amorphous PLA typically shrinks about 0.3–0.5%. Crystallized parts shrink more, so a mold cut for clear grades may not hold size with a high-heat grade.
- Regrind. Clean, dry regrind can go back in at a low ratio. Amorphous regrind sticks in a hot dryer the same way amorphous pellets do, so dry it cool.
- Most common defect. Brittle parts from wet or overheated resin. The parts often look fine and break in use. See brittle or cracking parts.
What to put on the purchase order
- Melt flow with the test condition (commonly 210°C / 410°F, 2.16 kg) and a range.
- Grade type: amorphous clear, crystallizing high-heat, or a blend.
- Compostability: if you need it, say which standard (ASTM D6400 or EN 13432) and the finished thickness. The claim rests on a third-party compostability listing for the finished item, not on the resin.
- Food contact: ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade.
- Packaging: moisture-barrier bags or lined gaylords, sealed until use.
- Bio-based content, if your customer asks for it, and the document that backs it.
- COA values to check: melt flow, moisture as shipped and color or yellowness for clear parts.
When to consider something else
- If you need a flexible compostable film, look at PBAT or PLA/PBAT blends.
- If you need clear packaging with more heat resistance and a common recycling stream, look at PET.
- If the part goes in a microwave or sees hot fill, look at polypropylene, and see best plastic for food containers.
- If the real requirement is recycled content rather than bio-based or compostable, look at recycled resin (PCR / PIR).
Common questions
Is PLA compostable?
PLA can be composted in industrial facilities, and finished items can meet ASTM D6400 or EN 13432. That is shown by a third-party compostability listing for the finished item at its thickness, not for the resin. PLA does not break down quickly in a home compost pile or in a landfill.
Does PLA need to be dried?
Yes. PLA hydrolyzes in the melt, so wet resin gives brittle parts. Crystallized pellets are commonly dried at about 80°C / 176°F for 4 hours to below about 250 ppm. Amorphous pellets must be dried cooler and longer, about 40°C / 104°F and no higher than about 45°C / 113°F.
Is PLA food safe?
Many PLA grades are made for food packaging, but compliance is grade-specific. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade and check that it covers your temperature and food type.
What temperature can PLA handle?
Standard amorphous PLA softens at about 55–60°C / 131–140°F, so it suits cold food and drinks. Crystallized high-heat grades handle 100°C / 212°F or more but are opaque and need a hot mold or annealing.
Tell us the PLA grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- The process (blown film, cast film, molding)
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Send the PLA grade and the process
Tell us the PLA grade, whether you extrude, mold or thermoform, and volume; a polymer chemist reviews it and we quote a match.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.